zoeng1 fei1 geng2張飛頸张飞颈
Jyutpingzoeng1 fei1 geng2
Yalejēung fēi géng
Definition
A short, fiery temper.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Derived from the character Zhang Fei in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, who is famously depicted as having a volatile and aggressive personality. It specifically describes someone who loses their temper quickly and lashes out, rather than someone who is merely grumpy or impatient. It is often used to describe someone who is prone to sudden outbursts of anger.
Examples
He has such a short temper and is always arguing with people.
Don't be so hot-headed, calm down before you speak.
Related words
Common phrases
very short-tempered
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being angry or annoyed. It refers to a personality trait or a tendency toward explosive reactions, not a temporary state of being upset.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
